County: Prioritize Meals on Wheels in CORE funding

It is increasingly difficult to read the news today without encountering reminders of the challenges our community faces in addressing the impending Silver Tsunami. Our senior population is growing faster than in any other county across the state, and the health and social issues affecting our seniors are becoming more acute. This is why the county Board of Supervisors must prioritize Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County in its CORE funding decisions at the Nov. 19 meeting.

Meals on Wheels provides nutritious daily meals and wellness checks to 1,700 seniors annually across the county. Without county funding, which currently constitutes 17% of the program’s budget, we will be forced to disenroll seniors — individuals who have no other reliable, accessible source of food. This comes in addition to denying hundreds of seniors access to this critical service. For many, Meals on Wheels is the difference between hunger and health.

We urge the county to recognize the impact of Meals on Wheels and ensure seniors in need continue to receive the nourishment and care they deserve.

— Jack Jacobson, Board Chair, Community Bridges

How the US can survive another Trump term

Now that Donald Trump has been improbably reelected, the first question he should be asked is, “Mr. President-elect, sir, could you please tell us exactly how the Democrats ‘rigged’ and otherwise cheated in the 2024 election? And please be specific, sir.”

Of course this will not happen, because there was no cheating. Which means that the Proud Boys can go home to their mommies and clean their rooms, and the fake electors can retire to Charlatan Island, where they can grow conspiracies instead of roses.

Of course the usual assortment of crazies and sycophants will continue to be in our face. But I think the Constitution’s checks and balances will help us survive another Trump term. (The rest of the world, you’re kind of on your own). This all presumes that a Republican Congress is willing to put the brakes on executive power, because the Supremes surely are not.

— Tim Rudolph, Santa Cruz

Newsom has misplaced priorities with ‘resistance’

The new president isn’t even sworn in yet and Gov. Gavin Newsom is already making battle plans to resist on all fronts and all ways. I guess we’ve earned the title of Commie-fornia. Just as the communist countries around the world are now changing their strategies because of a change of president.

While Florida and Texas were resisting Biden’s immigration policies Newsom went on tour to publicly shame them for their actions. But now resistance is Newsom’s policy and purpose.

Meanwhile our traffic is congested, our homes are unaffordable, electric and fuel prices are the highest in the land, our taxes are high and going higher, the homeless crisis is beyond “crisis level” and the state is in serious debt. Former Gov. Jerry Brown’s surplus (our tax dollars) got squandered.

— Randy Turnquist, Aptos

Extend SC downtown plan public comment period

Per the Oct. 15 Santa Cruz City Council meeting, the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) on the city’s Downtown Expansion Plan will likely be released this month, giving the public 45 days in which to officially comment.

This expansion plan will have major impacts on Santa Cruz’s future. This is not the first time the city has released EIRs or scheduled forums on pending decisions within a short time frame, at times that are inconvenient for the public. It almost seems the city intentionally does this.

With preparations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other family holidays likely to preoccupy many residents, allowing only a minimum of 45 days at this time of year in which to review the complexities of the DEIR and compose a careful response is inadequate and unacceptable.

The city should either delay the release of the DEIR or allow 90 days to receive the public’s comments. They claim to want “robust” community engagement and input, and there doesn’t seem to be a crucial reason not to extend the comment period.

— Judi Grunstra, Santa Cruz